Following protests across the State for reopening of temples, including the Jagannath Temple in Puri, for devotees, the State Government has directed the authorities of all major shrines to prepare action plans adhering to the Covid-19 guidelines.
The Government asked the district Collectors to submit reports after consultation with all stakeholders in next 10 days, informed Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy on Thursday.
Besides, the Collectors were asked to consider possibility for reopening of all the religious institutions for devotees.However, a servitor body of the Lingaraj Temple has opposed the plan for reopening of temples across the State.
“Covid-19 cases are on the rise in Old Town. The infection may further increase if devotees are allowed into the Lingaraj Temple. If servitors are infected, the temple rituals will be disrupted.
Although the servitors have been suffering financially due to closure of the temple, entry of devotees needs to restricted till the normalcy returns,” said the temple Badu Nijog secretary Kamalakanta Badu, “Other temples may not witness huge footfalls, but it will be tough to handle the crowds at the Jagannath Temple and the Lingaraj Temple,” he added.